The Biblical Basis Of Salvation: Romans 10:8-11
“8) But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9) that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10) for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11) For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”” Romans 10:8-11
The Great Commission is very simple. We are called to preach the gospel to everyone and let the Holy Spirit save those who believe. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 1:27)
Some people get hung up on trying to figure out who are the elect, but the Bible doesn’t focus on the elect, it focuses on believers. The way the Bible reads, those who die as believers are the elect. It doesn’t matter how many times they hear to gospel before they believe, those who put faith in Jesus Christ and believe in Him are the children of God!
The above text in the book of Romans ends the discussion. “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved!” (Romans 10:9) Salvation is based solely and only on faith in Jesus Christ. Stop adding conditions to the gospel!
It doesn’t matter if you read John 1:12, John 3:16, Acts 16:30-31, Romans 1:16-17, Romans 10:8-11, 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, Ephesians 1:13-14… and the list goes on and on and on; those who hear the gospel and believe are born again. They are the children of God. They are sealed with the Holy Spirit and filled with the Holy Spirit. Faith or belief in Jesus Christ is the only basis for salvation set forth in the Bible. I can find none other.
Stop adding other conditions to salvation. It has nothing to do with church membership, infant baptism, confirmation, communion, good works, right doctrine or theology, keeping the Ten Commandments, the version of the Bible you read, how you dress or wear your hair or which Bible scholars you read. Salvation is based solely on personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Once someone becomes a Christian then the process of discipleship and spiritual growth begins. Salvation is an event, sanctification and spiritual growth are life long processes.
It has been said that two surprises await those who get to heaven. The first surprise will be some of the unexpected people who are there. The second surprise will be some of the expected people who are not there!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global